← Arkansas knife laws›Local Knife-Law Preemption

Arkansas Local Knife-Law Preemption (2026)

Permitted: Yes — Act 161 of 2025 amended 14-16-504 and 14-54-1411 so local governments may not regulate the ownership, transport, carrying or possession of knives.

PermittedVerified Jul 7, 2026

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Official source: arkleg.state.ar.us →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Local Knife-Law Preemption in states bordering Arkansas

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

LouisianaPermitted
Yes — La. R.S. 40:1796, amended by Act 59 (eff. Aug 1 2024), bars any political subdivision from regulating knives/edged weapons more restrictively than state law; conflicting local rules are void.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: legis.la.gov · Full Louisiana rule →
MississippiConditional
Mississippi's preemption statute covers firearms and ammunition only — no county or municipality may regulate the possession, carrying, transportation, sale, transfer or ownership of firearms, ammunition or their components (Miss. Code 45-9-51, as amended 2014). Knives are not preempted, so local knife ordinances remain possible.
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: billstatus.ls.state.ms.us · Full Mississippi rule →
MissouriConditional
No statewide knife preemption; RSMo 21.750 preempts only firearms, components and ammunition, so localities may still regulate knives.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: revisor.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
OklahomaPermitted
21 O.S. 1289.24 preempts the entire field touching knives, voiding any municipal knife ordinance (only a school knife-possession policy is excepted).
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: oscn.net · Full Oklahoma rule →
TennesseePermitted
Tennessee preempts local knife regulation: state law occupies the field on the transfer, ownership, possession and transportation of knives, and no city, county or metropolitan government may regulate it (T.C.A. 39-17-1314, added by Public Chapter 418 of 2013, effective July 1, 2013).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: publications.tnsosfiles.com · Full Tennessee rule →
TexasPermitted
Tex. Local Gov't Code 229.001 bars municipalities from adopting or enforcing regulations on the carrying, ownership or transport of knives — statewide preemption of local knife ordinances.
Verified Jul 7, 2026 · Source: statutes.capitol.texas.gov · Full Texas rule →

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